The Test

How is it used?

The eGFR is used to screen for and detect early kidney damage and to monitor kidney function. This is now routinely performed every time a serum creatinine concentration is requested to evaluate the status of the kidneys in those with, or at risk of, kidney damage such as individuals with diabetes or hypertension, where early intervention can prevent further damage. In the UK, NICE Guidance (CG182) states: “Whenever a request for serum creatinine measurement is made, clinical laboratories should report an estimate of GFR (eGFR)”

Creatinine Clearance is a more accurate way to detect changes in kidney status than measurement of serum urea and creatinine, which are easier to do but cannot pick up early damage to the kidneys. eGFR or calculated creatinine clearance are based on serum creatinine, an easily performed and commonly used laboratory test. The calculation of eGFR which has been adopted in the UK uses a formula which uses the concentration of creatinine in blood, the age and sex of the patient and their ethnic origin.

When is it requested?

The eGFR can be determined, with no extra testing, at the same time that a blood sample is sent for a creatinine measurement. Since April 2006 eGFR has been routinely offered by the majority of UK laboratories. It was introduced to improve the detection of early kidney damage so that measures can be taken to the stop or to at least to slow progression to more severe kidney damage. eGFR is suitable for most patients who are 18 or more years old, not pregnant or malnourished and do not have acute kidney damage. GPs and UK laboratories are now using eGFR to look for the presence of kidney damage in various 'at risk groups' including people with diabetes, blood vessel disease, heart problems, high blood pressure, obstructions to urines flow and in patients taking some commonly prescribed drugs including diuretics (water tablets) and a variety of drugs used to treat high blood pressure.

What does the test result mean?

eGFR or Calculated Creatinine Clearance is a simple test to detect early changes in kidney function. A normal result means that kidney disease is less likely while a low value suggests that some kidney damage has occurred. Creatinine Clearance results are usually evaluated in the same way. Sometimes, in very early kidney damage (especially when the kidneys are damaged by diabetes), measured or estimated clearance may actually be high, indicating that the kidneys are working harder than normal.

Is there anything else I should know?

The actual amount of creatinine that a person produces and excretes is affected by their muscle mass and by the amount of protein in their diet. Men tend to have higher creatinine levels in their bloodstream than women or children.

A person's GFR decreases with age and some illnesses and can increase during pregnancy.

The calculation for eGFR is intended to be used when kidney function, and creatinine production, is stable. If a creatinine level is measured when the kidney function is changing rapidly, such as with acute renal failure, then it will not give a useful estimate of the filtration rate. A slightly different equation should be used to calculate the eGFR for those under the age of 18. eGFR may not be as useful for those who differ from normal creatinine concentrations. This may include people who have significantly more muscle (such as a body builder) or less muscle (such as a muscle-wasting disease) than the norm, those who are extremely obese, malnourished, follow a strict vegetarian diet, ingest little protein, or who take creatine dietary supplements. Likewise, the eGFR equations are not valid for those who are 75 year of age or older because muscle mass normally decreases with age.

The eGFR test may also be affected by drugs, such as gentamicin and cisplatin which can increase creatinine levels, and by any condition that decreases blood flow to the kidneys.

The most commonly used equation for calculating the eGFR, and the one recommended by the Renal Association for general use, is called the MDRD (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study) equation. It requires a person's serum creatinine, age, and assigned values based upon gender and race.

When an improved assessment of eGFR is needed a serum Cystatin C test can be used. This test is not currently available in all UK laboratories.

Get the Mobile App

Follow Us

This article was last reviewed on 22 September 2014. | This article was last modified on 26 October 2015.

The review date indicates when the article was last reviewed from beginning to end to ensure that it reflects the most current science. A review may not require any modifications to the article, so the two dates may not always agree.

The modified date indicates that one or more changes were made to the article. Such changes may or may not result from a full review of the article, so the two dates may not always agree.